Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 50 Kronur 1987-2005, KM# 31, Iceland
  • 50 Kronur 1987-2005, KM# 31, Iceland
Obverse

The four traditional protector spirits ("Landvættir") of Iceland. These are Griðungur the bull, Gammur the eagle, Dreki the dragon, and Bergrisi the giant.

Landvættir ("land wights") are spirits of the land in Norse mythology and in Germanic neopaganism. They protect and promote the flourishing of the specific places where they live, which can be as small as a rock or a corner of a field, or as large as a section of a country.

The bull (Griðungur) is the protector of northwestern Iceland, the eagle or griffin (Gammur) protects northeastern Iceland, the dragon (Dreki) protects the southeastern part, and the rock-giant (Bergrisi) is the protector of southwestern Iceland. Great respect was given to these creatures of Iceland, so much that there was a law during the time of the Vikings that no ship should bear grimacing symbols (most often dragonheads on the bow of the ship) when approaching Iceland. This was so the protectors would not be provoked unnecessarily.

FIMMTÍU KRÓNUR
ÍSLAND 2001

Reverse

Face value below a Shore crab.

Carcinus maenas is a common littoral crab. It is known by different names around the world. In the British Isles, it is generally referred to as the shore crab, or green shore crab. In North America and South Africa, it bears the name green crab or European green crab. In Australia and New Zealand, it is referred to as either the European green crab or European shore crab.

It is native to European and North African coasts as far as the Baltic Sea in the east, and Iceland and Central Norway in the north, and is one of the most common crabs throughout much of its range. It grows to a carapace width of 90 millimetres (3.5 in), and feeds on a variety of molluscs, worms and small crustaceans, potentially impacting a number of fisheries. Its successful dispersion has occurred via a variety of mechanisms, such as on ships' hulls, sea planes, packing materials, and bivalves moved for aquaculture.

50
KR

Edge

50 Kronur

KM# 31 Schön# 33
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Characteristics
Material Nickel Brass
Weight 8.25 g
Diameter 23 mm
Thickness 2.6 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal

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